What is Higg FEM verification? Higg FEM verification process, Higg FEM verification precautions

Higg Index is a self-assessment tool developed by SAC. The full English name of FEM is Facility Environmental Module, and the Chinese name means factory environment module verification. FEM is used for factory self-assessment. At present, clothing and footwear enterprises such as Nike, Marks&Spencer, Levi Strauss and Walmart all support a new tool to assess the sustainable development and environmental impact of the entire supply chain of the textile industry. For example, by 2022, Wal Mart stores in the United States will only cooperate with suppliers who use the Higg Index FEM tool of the environmental module in the Sustainable Clothing Alliance (SAC) to measure and improve their factory environment, Higg FEM environmental inspection has become a threshold for cooperation with customers.

The general process of Higg FEM factory inspection and verification is as follows:

1、 As long as the factory completes the self-assessment form, then Post shares it with the customer in the Higg assessment system:

2、 The factory must be verified by Higg FEM factory inspection by two parties or external third parties or customers:

This form of Higg evaluation requires several more steps than the previous situation, but many of them are the same:

2.1 Higg system registration:

This step is the same. First log in to the Higg system to complete the registration.

2.2 Purchase module:

First, enterprises need to purchase the FEM self-assessment module and complete the self-assessment as described in 2.3.

Secondly, enterprises also need to purchase FEM verification and evaluation modules, that is, vFEM modules. Otherwise, verification is impossible.

Therefore, the factory needs to pay two fees, one for the FEM module and the other for the vFEM module.

2.3. Fill in the Higg FEM Verification Factory Self Assessment Form:

This step is also completely consistent. The factory fills in the FEM self-assessment form, which can be downloaded from offline excel or filled in online. However, the self-assessment form must be completed 95% or more before it can be posted on the Higg system.

2.4 Select Higg FEM audit organization:

The Higg FEM audit organization can be selected simultaneously or separately from 2.3, without strict sequence. The Higg FEM factory inspection cost enterprise can negotiate with the audit organization to reach a price acceptable to both parties. Then, the enterprise can select the audit organization on the Higg system and determine the audit date with the audit organization.

2.5 Higg FEM verification:

After the above steps are completed, the Higg FEM verification organization selected by the enterprise completes the verification according to the agreed date, and uploads the Higg FEM verification data and report to the Higg system within the specified time.

2.6 Confirmation and sharing of Higg FEM validation data and reports:

After the verifier completes the Higg FEM verification report, the enterprise logs in to the Higg system for confirmation. After having no objection to the verification data, the verifier can operate and share it with the corresponding customer.

Considerations for Higg FEM review are as follows:

1. The verifier is only qualified to judge the conformity of the data and documents provided by the factory. He cannot give the results on the spot to say whether the factory meets or does not meet certain requirements.

2. HIGG only gives the verification results, but no one judges whether the factory has passed or failed the verification, that is, pass or fail will not be displayed on the report. That is to say, it will not give you a grade like BSCI, C or D. A lot of data is there. I find it hard to say whether this is good or not. After all, an overall score is the clearest.

3. If the factory has doubts about the data verification results of the verifier, it can appeal directly. The appeal process and corresponding time points are as follows:

Between verifier and factory - during closing meeting

Between validation agency and factory - within 48 hours

Between VOO, validation agency and factory - within 72 hours